No cup of joy for Toon
ONE thing Newcastle United didn't want was a replay.
Yet that was what they got after a forgettable afternoon on a barely playable pitch at Home Park.
And the question is less whether they can overcome Plymouth Argyle at the second attempt – on Saturday's evidence they will – but more just what effect the rematch will have on the club's promotion campaign in the Championship?
On top of that, should Chris Hughton's side progress to the fourth round of the FACup, they've hardly got an easy passage to the next stage of the competition.
Yesterday saw their nearest league rivals – West Bromwich Albion – handed a home tie against the winners of the replay by their celebrity fan Frank Skinner.
Hughton was quick to point out the positives after Newcastle's goalless draw at Plymouth – valuable experience for the likes of Tamas Kadar, Tim Krul and Nile Ranger, all handed rare starts – but he knows the club's involvement could quickly turn into a negative should his squad suffer more injuries, or the ignominy of a premature exit.
Influential midfielder Alan Smith didn't last the game, having taken a blow to his cheekbone and eye socket, and Hughton can ill afford to lose any more players.
United, all in likelihood, aren't going to win the FA Cup – a glance at the odds underlines that, with Hughton's team 100/1 with some bookmakers to end their 40-year trophy drought at Wembley in May.
But they are odds-on to win the Championship, and their league campaign is the overwhelming priority in the dressing room.
However, disrespecting the cup isn't an option, and that's Hughton's problem.
A glance at the Barn Park End at Home Park – filled with almost 2,400 away fans, many having made the 410-mile journey from Tyneside – would have confirmed the place the competition still has in the hearts of Newcastle fans.
Those at Home Park saw United edge a low quality game, with Danny Guthrie and Nicky Butt having the best of the chances.
Guthrie had a shot palmed away late in the first-half, and Butt had an effort tipped on to the bar by Romain Larrieu in the dying minutes as Newcastle threw everything at Paul Mariner's men.
Plymouth, meanwhile, couldn't turn their spells of possession into clearcut chances, though big striker Rory Fallon gave Fabricio Coloccini a torrid time in the air.
It wasn't to be, and there were understandably grumblings among those supporters who had made the long journey about the changes Hughton had made to his team, with top scorer Kevin Nolan and Steven Taylor having been left behind, while the likes of Andy Carroll, Jonas Gutierrez, Steve Harper and Jose Enrique were named as substitutes.
However, the fact was that Hughton's best player was teenager Kadar, who outshone defensive partner Coloccini.
Kadar will undoubtedly be stronger for the experience, but will we be able to say the same about United?
Miles Starforth travelled to Plymouth with Flybe, the UK's No1 domestic airline. Flybe – which has 180 routes, and serves 13 countries – flew a special service to Exeter for Newcastle United fans. To book with Flybe, log on to www.flybe.com.
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Weather for South Shields
Friday 25 May 2012
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